Tulsa World: Runner overcomes skeptics

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Runner overcomes skeptics
Craig Cleveland has lost 100 pounds and the Route 66 Marathon will be his third marathon.

By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/22/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/22/2009 4:05 AM

Craig Cleveland is getting the last laugh these days.

The 53-year-old drew chuckles from friends and family when he first announced he was going to run a marathon a year and a half ago.

"My son Chuck is a real fitness buff," Cleveland said. "He was pushing my wife, Virginia, and I to get into shape because we were getting sickly. My wife joined the walking program at Fleet Feet. I laughed because I thought it was a joke. Who pays to walk?

"I couldn't hang with them and so I also got involved. That was the difference. I had tried for years and years different ways to lose weight. Once I got in the group, the combination of peer pressure and coaching is what made it (successful) for me."

The more Cleveland embraced the plan, the more weight he shed. He dropped 60 pounds the first year and in the last year and a half has shed 40 more.

It got him thinking about competing in the Route 66 Marathon, which gets under way Sunday at Veteran's Park with the marathon, half-marathon and marathon relay at 7:30 a.m. followed by the 5K fitness run and walk at 8 a.m. and the one-mile fun run and walk at 9 a.m.

"When I told my son I was going to run the marathon, he thought I was crazy," said Cleveland, who will participate in his third marathon Sunday. "Outside of my running friends, everybody thought I was crazy, including my family. It was laughable to them that I would even want to run a marathon. Even Chuck, who was real supportive, had the look in his eye like 'I don't want you to kill yourself.' I'm the one laughing now."

Cleveland is winner of this year's Kjell Tovander Award, which is named for a 21-year-old runner who died after collapsing during the Route 66 half-marathon last year. The award goes to someone who is "an inspiring example of the human spirit and will," according to the race Web site. The award is determined by a committee headed up by the Tovander family and the directors of the Route 66 Marathon.

In its fourth year, the Route 66 event continues to grow in participation and its standing in the running world.

"It's becoming a world-class event," Route 66 Marathon founder Chris Lieberman said. "The percentage of participants and awareness in Tulsa has increased yearly. The marathon community nationwide and worldwide is pretty close-knit and the word gets out quick if there is a pretty good marathon. Honestly, the people outside Tulsa knew more about our race than the people in Tulsa our first few years.

"However, people in Tulsa are starting to become aware of our race. The percentage of people from the 918 area code is 70 percent this year. It's continued to grow every year. We're glad. We want people from our area to participate. It's great that we have participants from all 50 states and five different countries, but really the local people are the backbone of our race. That's why I wanted to start the race, for our local runners."

The races begin and end at Veteran's Park in Tulsa, which is also the site of an antique car show and entertainment area.

"It's a great place to view the race," Lieberman said. "The start is awesome for anyone who hasn't seen it yet."

Route 66 Marathon schedule

7:30 a.m.: Route 66 Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon relay start

8 a.m.: Route 66 Mayor's 5K Fitness Run and Walk start

9 a.m.: Route 66 One Mile Fun Run and Walk start

The start/finish line is at Veterans Park, 18th and Boulder

Lynn Jacobsen 581-8461
lynn.jacobsen@tulsaworld.com By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer

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